Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Victoria narrow suspender, awarded to Sergeant Henry Chamberlain, Portsmouth Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry. From Wincanton, Somerset, he saw service between December 1874 and February 1896, almost all of it being on shore service with the exception of a period spent aboard the battleship Hector between October 1876 and October 1878. Originally with the 32nd Company, he was with “A” Company when awarded his long service medal in January 1896.
Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Victoria narrow suspender; (HY. CHAMBERLAIN, SERGT: NO: 451 PORTS. R.M.L.I.)
Condition: very light edge bruising at 5 o’clock on obverse rim, otherwise Nearly Extremely Fine.
Henry Chamberlain was born on 22 February 1857 in Wincanton, Somerset, and having worked as a labourer, then enlisted at Taunton on 22 December 1874 into the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a Private (No.451) with the Portsmouth Division. After passing though the Recruit Depot at Walter, he was posted to the 32nd Company, and first saw service afloat aboard the battleship Hector between October 1876 and October 1878. He was promoted to Corporal with the 32nd Company on 1 January 1879, and then joined the school ship and training establishment Impregnable from May 1881, being located at Devonport. On the retitling of the companies, Chamberlain then found himself serving with “F” Company from 1 January 1885 onwards. He was posted back to the Portsmouth Division in January 1887.
Chamberlain then received a posting to the training ship St. Vincent from October 1888 through to October 1891, when he rejoined the Portsmouth Division, and he was promoted to Sergeant for service with “A” Company on 1 January 1894. Awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 28 January 1896, he was discharged from service on 26 February 1896, and later enrolled into the Royal Fleet Reserve on 8 June 1901. Confirmed as his only medal entitlement.
